Ano ba ang pagiging Diyosesis? Why be thankful? What do we need to be thankful for?

The Vatican II document Christus Dominus (meaning “Lord Jesus”) talks about the bishops. It says that “a diocese is that portion of God’s people which is entrusted to a bishop”. Ito ay tunay na simbahan kung saan ating nararanasan ang pagiging isa, katoliko, apostoliko, at banal.

There are 4 components of a diocese which make up“pasasalamat, pananalig at pagpapanibago”.

Una, ang Simbahan na tinipon ng Espiritu Santo. Hindi lahat ng pagtitipon ay mula sa Espiritu Santo. How do we know if the Holy Spirit is the reason for the gathering? Kapag may pananampalataya. A diocese is a community of faith. Faith is the reason for the gathering and this is what we have to be thankful for at nabubuklod tayo bilang isang bayan. Kung hindi dahil sa Espiritu Santo, hindi tayo magkakatipon dito. Iba – iba tayo pero nagkakaisa tayo dahil sa biyaya ng Espiritu Santo. This is a miracle. Kahit iba-iba tayo nagiging iisa sa pananampalataya.

Ang Holy Spiritay nagbibigay ng iba’t ibanggifts na tanda rin ng pagkilos nito. We have the gift to teach, share talents, and be a catechist and use this to promote God’s teachings for the common good and faith; You can also use your gift of cooking not only for your family but for the prisoners and feeding program, kung magaling kang kumanta pwede ka sa choir, etc. Gamitin natin ang ating mga talento o galing sa paglilingkod sa simbahan at sa Diyos.

Think about pagpapanibago because there are many gifts of the Holy Spirit which we do not develop and use. Minsan nagseselos tayo sa gifts ng iba. That is why we need repentance. Nasasayang (ito) pag hindi nagagamit sacommon good.

Manalig sa Panginoon. Lahat tayo ay makasalanan. We need to repeatedly renew kung ano ba talaga ang misyon ng mga kaparian sa bayan ng Diyos … tagapangasiwa, tagabuklod ng bayan ng Diyos, hindi ng pera o building, but the gifts of the Holy Spirit in the diocese and the best assets of the church are the faithful. Pray for them to be good, remind them with true concern. Love them in all sincerity. Pray that they be obedient to the Holy Spirit.